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Acne may be considered insignificant when comparing it to some other health issues, but when it happens to you, it's as if you've had a large part of your armour against the world removed. You feel exposed, embarrassed, unconfident, depressed. Sometimes you are able to forget about it for a while, that is until you have to meet a new client, meet your new classmates, go to that end of year ball or just catch a glimpse of your reflection while passing a mirror.

What is acne?

The most common form of acne is Acne Vulgaris. It occurs due to the following factors:

hormonal changes stimulate the sebaceous gland, which in turn cause more sebum to be produced

more skin cells shed, causing a cellular build up

naturally occurring bacteria (proprionbacterium acnes) present in the skin flourishes in this oxygen starved environment and causes infections to occur

Common questions and myths:

Diet: can it affect your skin?

Whilst there is no established connection between particular food types and acne, diet does play an important role. One element of diet that needs to be examined is the quality (and quantity) of the fats and oils entering the body. Hydrogenation, heating and other treatments of fats and oils can bring about adverse changes, especially in relation to their viscosity and hence motility, and thus their ability to migrate beyond the sebaceous glands. Remember too, that once oxidation of fats and oils begins outside the body, it continues inside. Any blockage in glands or portals will initially cause inflammation and then as the immune system reacts, this can cause pus. Natural saturated fats will be less likely to result in such degradation, whereas polyunsaturates will be the most susceptible.

A balanced diet is essential. It gives your body the tools to operate at optimal efficiency. Without the correct nutrients it will just do the best it can with the resources it has. One of the major benefits of a healthy body is the ability of the immune system to resist inflammation and infections. Have you ever noticed how when you are ill and run down, that your skin gets worse? Your immune system is fully occupied with more important things and can't focus only on the skin. Another important function of the body is the regeneration process. It is miraculous what the body can do when given the correct raw materials! The best approach is to eat the widest variety of fruit and vegetables you possibly can. Nuts and sprouts are also very good, although roasted nuts should be avoided as the roasting process depletes any goodness. Of course water is essential for many reasons, so drink plenty of it.

Does having acne mean Oily Skin, my skin seems very Dry and I still have spots?

Acne and blemishes are not limited to people with oily skin. People with dry skins are also susceptible. Some people have naturally dry skins and others find that their skin becomes drier as they get older and suddenly spots or lumps start appearing. This can be due to the build up of dead and damaged skin cells that block the sebum and allow naturally occurring bacteria to flourish and cause infections.

Thus anyone with cellular build up can have spots.

What products should you use if you have acne?

Unfortunately many of the products available for acne are designed to kill bacteria and even cells, and can be extremely harsh. This has two potentially dreadful outcomes:

Firstly: harsh products dry out skin even more, and flaky dead and damaged skin cells can continue to stick to the surface of the skin, causing the very condition they are seeking to alleviate i.e. blocking pores and trapping the sebum causing infection.

Secondly: the consistent use of harsh products can in itself cause sensitivities, as if having acne on its own isn't bad enough!

It is important to choose products that are appropriate to your skin type. One size does not fit all in relation to acne.

As explained above, cleansers should always be gentle; you don't want to strip your skin entirely. Be sure to use a good quality cleanser. People with dry skins can even use light cleansing milks.

Exfoliation is essential for anyone with acne or blemishes, as it helps remove the build up of dead and damaged cells. However, abrasive or mechanical exfoliation is not advised for acne skins, as it is important to avoid aggravating or damaging affected areas. The most effective and least inflammatory method of exfoliation we have found is through the use of fruit acids, in the form of our toners. They specifically target dead and damaged cells, without damaging any good skin cells. Theses toners are tailored for different skin types and whilst they are very powerful, concentrated products, they are formulated to enable a gradual increase so as not to cause any inflammation, and are therefore suitable for even the most sensitive skins.

Should people with acne moisturise?

The simple answer is yes. This doesn't mean that you have to pack it on, with good quality products only a small amount is necessary. It is important that your moisturizer effectively replaces any natural sebum removed during the cleaning procedure, otherwise the sebaceous glands will be stimulated to compensate and an excessively greasy condition can result. In addition, moisturisers often contain ingredients that will protect your skin from the usual daily assaults. In addition a good night cream will provide nutrients to assist with regeneration, as it is generally accepted that the skin, hair & nails are the last to receive an allocation of these precious resources!

For those who have oily skin, whether it is oily all over, or just in certain areas, we recommend that moisturiser is applied to damp skin. By simply avoiding drying your skin after cleansing and toning, and applying moisturizer to damp skin, you will use less moisturizer. If your skin is dry in parts, you can then add a little more moisturizer to those areas after a very short time.